This article discusses why I prefer practicing with gulls, and shares an extensive selection of new images recently captured at 40 Mile Creek in Grimsby.
Some photographers seem to view gulls as nothing more than a nuisance… and they don’t bother trying to photograph them at all. From my perspective, of all of the bird species I could choose to photograph in-flight, it is difficult for me to identify better practice birds than gulls.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
Gulls are plentiful.
While gulls do migrate to warmer climates, we can often find gulls in Southern Ontario for a good part of the year. This makes them one of the most common birds in our area.
Gulls also tend to hang around with each other along shorelines, around piers, and other areas with good water access. So, if someone wants to get some practice photographing birds-in-flight, there is often a readily available supply of gulls.
Gulls are often acclimatized to people.
In many areas gulls have grown accustomed to being around people, which can allow us to get in somewhat closer to the birds. Of course, this can be a nuisance at times if the birds have been fed by humans.
One of my favourite spots for practicing with gulls is at the harbour area at 40 Mile Creek. At this location the gulls will come in fairly close to humans if being fed by them. Otherwise they tend to keep a reasonable distance.
There is usually a good supply of small, bait fish in the harbour that provides a more natural source of nutrition… and tends to keep the gulls in the area to feed.
Being acclimatized to people to at least some extent, allows photographers to get in reasonably close to subject birds. This can expand the skill sets that a photographer is trying to improve through practicing with gulls. As well as give photographers multiple opportunities to practice specific skills.
Gulls can be aerobatic flyers.
Unlike ducks and geese that often fly in predictable paths with only nominal abrupt changes in direction, gulls can be quite aerobatic flyers. This makes them ideal subjects to practice eye/hand coordination.
These difference in flying patterns are even more pronounced when gulls come into land on water, as they often make abrupt banking turns before landing. They will also execute their landing manoeuvres from a range of different heights and approach angles. This encourages us to use our observational skills, and can challenge our eye/hand coordination.
Gulls often land in crowded spots.
While it is a fairly simple task to photograph a bird landing when it is well separated from other birds, landing in a crowded spot presents some additional challenges. Acquiring focus can be more difficult, as can tracking with the bird as it comes in to land.
For example, let’s have a look at three consecutive frames of a gull coming into land with a number of other birds in close proximity.
During my most recent visit to 40 Mile Creek, my practicing with gulls session specifically focused on birds coming in to land. Some with unobstructed approaches, and others when landing in a crowded spot.
I practiced adjusting my technique with these two scenarios, acquiring initial focus earlier on gulls coming in with unobstructed flight paths.
I would wait longer to acquire initial focus on gulls coming in to land amongst other birds, and also put more reliance on the audible affirmation emitted by my camera, when auto-focus had been acquired. I would also tend to use a shorter duration image burst in this scenario.
Learning to photograph gulls landing in a crowded spot can assist us when capturing images of other species in similar situations.
Gulls can be aggressive with each other.
It is very common for fights and chases to break out when a lot of gulls are in close proximity. Open beak displays are also very common and can add drama and variety to practice images.
Gulls exhibit a wide range of behaviours.
Gulls can be terrific subjects for photographers wanting to enhance their observation skills. We can observe them doing mid-air shakes to rid their feathers of water.
Or rise up from the surface of the water when beginning a short dive to hunt for small fish.
We can capture them in mid-air part way through making a shallow dive.
Some gulls will thrust themselves forward along the surface of the water when trying to catch a small fish… and create an interesting water trail for our resulting images.
Gulls can offer us interesting poses.
As gulls come in to land their bodies and wings can look somewhat contorted… and offer us interesting poses to photograph.
At other times they can give us the opportunity to practice precise moment captures when one webbed foot is just touching the surface of the water.
Or just a fraction of a second before a gull touches down as it is landing along a shoreline.
Some species have beautifully detailed feathers.
Which can add some drama to a landing photograph.
There may even be instances when we can capture gulls in close proximity demonstrating similar behaviours.
We can still be creative with common birds.
Even though gulls are one of the most common of birds, we still have the opportunity to be creative with them. For example, gulls can help create some interesting water movement in our photographs as we can see in the image above.
Over the years I’ve observed that some of the most interesting water splashes occur when a gull lands in very shallow water close to shore… or on a submerged sand bar… and disturbs the surface of the water with its feet.
The image above is my favourite one from my recent practicing with gulls visit at 40 Mile Creek. We could look at this photograph as ‘just another a gull’ like so many others. But to my eye… the splash of water caused by its left leg and foot motion… turns this image into something special.
Keepers are irrelevant to me.
When I’m out practicing with gulls, keepers are irrelevant to me. I’m out with my camera to improve specific skills like eye/hand coordination and shutter release timing. Whether I’m able to get any keeper images or not… is of no concern to me. If I do get some keepers… they’re an unexpected bonus. The benefit of this mental approach is a feeling of complete freedom. I can try to capture an image of anything that catches my eye… without any pressure of that attempt having to be successful.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld with the camera equipment noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,418 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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Hi Thomas
You said this was a practice session however some great images there .
I’ve been unable to walk (with anything like the weight of a camera) for about 2 years and I’ve finally had a knee replacement, so I’m starting to think about going out again. So thank you for the reminder that I’ll need to refresh my skills and practice. Gulls seem a good (and plentiful) subject
Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your supportive comment regarding the images. I find when I go out for a practice session it is easier to clear my mind of any expectations. This allows me to push myself and my gear more as I’m not afraid of missing images. Sometimes this can lead to some keepers… which as I mentioned in the article… are a bonus.
If you don’t already have one, you may consider getting a short stool. Once I find a good vantage point with good shooting angles, I often sit on a stool to shoot from a lower angle. You may find this takes some strain off your knee.
Tom
Great idea, thanks Thomas
🙂
Great images. I think gulls are quite amazing birds.
Glad you liked the image Anders! The more I observe gulls, the more interesting I find them.
Tom
Hi Thomas another excellent piece about Olympus photography.
I see you are pushing the 150-600 now quite regularly, I have rented this and found it to be very heavy for me. It’s quality was outstanding though! Do you use the maximum zoom most of the time? I wonder if the focal length of actual view is more 600?
I may try my son’s 40-150 f2.8 pro and a MC20 to get to 600 at 5.6 perhaps when my EM1X arrives from MPB here in the UK
Keep the good work going on this blog it’s excellent
Hi Mark,
I don’t try to “push” any specific camera or lens. I have used the M.Zuiko 150-600 a lot since buying one, simply because I really enjoy using it. The 150-600 has become my primary lens for bird photography because of the additional reach, image quality and handling characteristics. I typically use the longer end of the focal length range with many of my images captured between 250 mm and 600 mm. I do use the 600 mm length quite often. It really depends on the specific shooting situation… I love to have the flexibility of the extended focal length range.
No doubt the 150-600 is a heavier lens that may be a bit much for some folks to use handheld. Everything photographic comes with benefits/challenges and I agree that the size and weight of the 150-600 can be a challenge. I shot with full frame for a number of years so I don’t personally find the size and weight of the 150-600 to be an issue for me.
I used the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 with the MC-20 teleconverter as my primary birding lens for the first year or so when I switched to Olympus and found it to be an excellent lens. In fact, it is my favourite M.Zuiko lens due to its outstanding image quality, handling and flexibility. The PRO 40-150 f/2.8 can be a great lens to use for insect photography as well as for flower photography, especially with extension tubes and/or teleconverters.
Tom
Thanks Tom the 150-600 is a great piece of glass but I do find it a bit heavy to lift etc.
I think a good option could be the 40-150 plus 1.4/2.0 times converters.
Hi Mark,
The M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 is a wonderful piece of kit. I think you will enjoy the flexibility of this lens, especially when used with MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters… and/or extension tubes.
Tom
Thanks Tom I sent a lens that my son had one of the old 4:3 50-200 for repair at OM Systems they couldn’t fix it but sent me a 30% off any lens voucher!! So I may get a 40-150 and both converters and with the EM1X I am getting it could be an amazing bird photography set up
I also love macro and use the brilliant 60mm regularly too
PS when I said you were “pushing” the lovely heavy lens I didn’t mean that I should have used a better phrase – sorry
Hi Mark,
Here is an article that may be of interest: https://smallsensorphotography.com/favourite-m-zuiko-lens . It will provide some additional impressions of the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 f/2.8 and explain why it is my favourite M.Zuiko lens.
My response to ‘push’ was intended more of a clarification for some of our newer readers. As you know, I don’t have any affiliate marketing relationships which pay a commission on ‘click through sales’. I have no vested interest when folks buy new camera gear.
Tom
Interesting piece Thomas thanks and as always top quality as always.
I feel in some ways the 100-400 may suit better as it’s probably a great length for subject reach?
The 40-150 is obviously a beautiful lens but 600 maximum with MC20 may not be enough?
Hi Mark,
It really depends on your objective with whatever lens you choose. The M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 f/2.8 is stronger optically and has more overall flexibility… but of course that only matters if you are looking for a lens that can adapt to a number of photographic situations. With the MC-20 attached the PRO 40-150 weighs in at about 909 grams (without tripod collar) and is only slightly smaller than the M.Zuiko 100-400. The PRO 40-150 zooms internally while the 100-400 trombones out… so there is quite a size difference when working on the long end of the zooms. The 100-400 without tripod collar weighs 1120 grams.. so it is only 211 grams more than the PRO 40-150 f/2.8. Once you add the price of the MC-20 to the PRO 40-150 f/2.8 it will probably cost you more than the 100-400 f/5-6.3 IS.
The M.Zuiko 100-400 IS is a great lens that provides 100 mm (efov 200 mm) of additional reach. When in the field the difference is very noticeable. If you use the MC-14 with the 100-400 the reach increases to 560 mm (efov 1120 mm) at the cost of one stop of light (i.e. f/9 on the telephoto end). Logically if you are looking for a good quality lens with great reach for birding and nature, the 100-400 would likely be a better choice.
I used the MC-14 extensively with my 100-400… but only rarely use the MC-20 due to the 2 stop loss of light and having to shoot at a minimum of f/13.
The 100-400 is about 1/2 of the weight of the 150-600 IS super telephoto (1120 grams vs. 2065 grams) so some folks find it more easy to use handheld.
Tom
Thanks Thomas it’s good advice and very helpful. I think I may go for a brand new 100-400 with the 30% offer I have and then borrow my son’s 1.4 converter.
I am really looking forward to getting my hands on my mint condition EM1-X I feel this combination will help me use the 100-400 more effectively.
Hi Mark,
You should buy whatever camera equipment will best meet your needs.
Tom
So glad you posted this with so many examples. You may not care about keepers, but some o0f these are pretty spectacular shots showing a lot of practice/patience/skill. We live on the Cape Cod shore and have anywhere from 2 to 200 gulls on our beach every day. I’ve been traveling so much that I haven’t had much chance to photograph them this year, but your shots inspire me to do more practicing and skill development. I can walk out our back door 20 feet and be within 30 meters of over a hundred gulls about once a week. I need to get out there and practice!
Hi John,
I’m glad you found the article provided some inspiration… 🙂 Getting some keepers when out doing some skills practice is always a pleasant bonus! There were a few images captured during that practice session that may find their way into my handheld bird photography eBook.
Tom